IRL IndyCar Danica Patrick Transcipt

Danica Patrick Transcipt
 
IRL IndyCar(r) Series driver Danica Patrick (Rahal Letterman Racing)
participated in a press conference Thursday in advance of this weekend's
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway (Aug. 25-27).  Below is a
transcript of the press conference:
 
****
 
With your move to Andretti Green Racing, do you think you have a better
chance of winning?
I do think I have a better chance of winning.  Leaving Rahal Letterman
doesn't say I didn't think they can win, it means I think I have a
better chance with Andretti Green.  They have more wins and more
championships.  I feel I can learn a lot.  They work hard on developing
the car, and that means a lot to me.  Change is good and getting better
as a driver takes change sometimes.
 
With your announcement about switching teams before the end of the
season, does that make for any uncomfortable circumstances with your
existing team?
For me, what was most difficult was all the speculation.  I didn't know
who knows anything or who thinks anything.  It's easier since the
announcement, it's not awkward.  It happens in racing and sports all the
time.  The main thing is to deal with it in a professional manner and
just keep doing everything I can to win for Rahal Letterman.  I'd love
to do that for Bobby (Rahal) after all these years, but only time will
tell.  And, if it doesn't happen now, it will happen down the road.
 
What was the main factor in your decision to switch teams? 
I've heard and read rumors about money and they're not true - not even
close.  My decision came based on where I can win, and nothing else.
That really is what I have to do as a driver.
 
What were you thoughts about Infineon Raceway after last year and your
thoughts heading into the weekend?
I'd be lying if I told you I was looking forward to it.  It's hard and
fast, and it's incredibly physically challenging.  I haven't gotten on
with the road courses like I thought I would.  The guys who are the best
at road courses are from Champ Car or Formula 2000 and bigger cars.
This is a big, heavy car with lots of horsepower and I have to get used
to it.  It's only my sixth road course in an IndyCar.  With the few road
courses in this series, it will take more time than if this was an
oval-based series.
 
Do you do anything special to prepare for this particular race?
I can probably speak for most of the drivers when I say that we kick up
our weights a bit.  I increase the weight in my program a little bit and
made sure I kept up my workout schedule and didn't miss a session.  I've
felt that my strength has been much better this year because I'm more
relaxed and used to it.  I'm race fit.
 
Some media have claimed that you are saving the IRL.  How do you feel
about that?  Has that put more pressure on you?
I don't think I put that on me as a pressure.  I'm flattered that
someone would think I could save the IRL.  I think I could help, but
saving it is a big job.  My mission is to help make the IRL huge and let
everyone know about it.  People need to do what they can to make it
bigger and it's not just me that can do that.
 
With all of the attention you've gotten the last few years, do you feel
that will die down into next season or will joining Andretti Green with
Marco (Andretti) make it the 1-2 punch in additional attention?
I don't really feel that much pressure with media.  I do what I can do.
As long as it doesn't interfere with racing or relaxing on an off
weekend.  I just try to be myself.
 
Did you have any concrete offers from NASCAR teams and did you consider
any of them?
I guess it depends on what you'd call concrete.  I did have some offers,
but it wasn't the right choice at the time or the right decision.  I
always said IndyCar was where I wanted to be if it was a team I could
win with.  My parents went to a NASCAR race recently just to check it
out and they thought it was pretty impressive.  I have things to do here
(in IndyCar) and achievements I'm looking for.  As history shows, you
can go to NASCAR, but you can't come back.
 
It seemed like you had a pretty rough year at Infineon Raceway last
year, can you talk about that?
It was hard.  We just couldn't get it together.  It came back to
experience and just feeling the car.  For me, it takes getting to know
the car.  I don't like to manhandle the car and drop a wheel off while
I'm learning a course.  I take more time.  I'd like to be faster than
more than a couple of cars this year.  I went through a period where I
was trying to take my teammates driving styles, but I learned that I
need to drive the way I drive and improve on that.
 
How do you think you'll get along with your new team?  Will there be any
conflict about salaries?
I don't know what other drivers' salaries are, but I know what's been
speculated and it's way off.  I did not make my decision based on money.
Tony (Kanaan) is the best driver on the team and he tends to finish in
front of the other drivers on the team.  It'd be a great confidence
booster to run with him and beat him.  Marco (Andretti) is a young
driver and I'm a young driver.  I've gotten along with him very well.  I
don't think there will be much butting of heads, but our job is to go
faster and make everyone else on the team go faster.
 
What is involved in adjusting to a new team?
You tend to develop a language with your engineer over time and it takes
a little bit of time to get on the same page with the new guy making the
changes to your car.  At the beginning it takes a whole lot of talking
and eventually it takes only a word.  It takes a while to build trust.
I tend to be a little reserved and shy at first.  I'm going to be
respectful and learn my way.  I am looking forward to my teammates
because they're big on teamwork.
 
How have you changed since last year?
The biggest thing is that I have more people around me and helping me.
They understand how I like my schedule and how I work the best.  My
parents had a glass company, but they sold it, and they're helping me.
That is huge.  They take a lot of the burden off of me and go through a
lot of the calls that I can't take.  That really allows me to be happier
and more relaxed.  I have a good team.  
 
What are your goals for this year?
My goal is to finish the race.  It's a tough race and it's long.  There
isn't a spotter in your ear and I have to look in my mirrors.  Passing
is pretty risky in these cars.  You just have to stay on your toes and
drive with your own style.